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Michelle Carpenter: Undocumented workers provide vital tax support

Posted:
04/09/2013 01:00:00 AM MDT

Your recent story on Rep. Jared Polis' recent meeting outlined some interesting facts regarding the importance of our state's immigrant population. Here is important economic information that must be considered in this discussion.

According to a recent report by the Perryman Group, Colorado would lose $8 billion in economic activity if all unauthorized immigrants left our state. Undocumented workers play plenty of taxes -- $30.9 million in Colorado income taxes, $22 million in property taxes and $114.6 million in sales taxes. More than that, according to the Bell Policy Center, employers pay $15 million in Colorado employment insurance taxes for these workers, none of whom will ever be eligible due to their status.

Just like all of our ancestors, including my own family from Ireland, current-day immigrants come here to work hard and build a better life for themselves and their families. They contribute to our economy and to our communities, and have been marginalized as a result of ineffective immigration regulations. As Rep. Polis pointed out, the system is broken and must be fixed. It is imperative to pass sensible immigration laws, thereby creating a path to citizenship and legitimizing our state's hard-working families. It's good for our state's economy and it's the right thing to do!

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